Batavia gets its revenge, regional title

The last time Batavia faced Neuqua Valley it was in the Upstate Eight Conference crossover championship.

The Wildcats won that game, 3-1, behind a hat trick from Ryan Ross while shutting down Batavia's Ian Larson.

That wouldn't happen again during Saturday night's Class 3A Metea Valley Regional championship, as Larson scored twice and the Bulldogs blanked the Wildcats, 3-0.

Batavia (18-2-3) advances to the Class 3A Bolingbrook sectional. The Bulldogs will face Benet in a semifinal on Tuesday.

"We wanted to definitely show the real Batavia team," Batavia coach Mark Gianfrancesco said. "It was a mixed up night the last time we played. We didn't have our full lineup in there and were playing down a man and they took advantage."

Kevin Collins was taken down just outside of the penalty area with 20:33 remaining which set up the lone goal the Bulldogs would need. Larson took the free kick from 21 yards out and using his left foot, just curved it into the net.

"They put four or five into the wall and I figured the keeper would be screened and I could test his reflexes, so I just put it hard and low," Larson said. "Coming in, we knew how strong they were, especially having lost to them. In the first half it went both ways and neither team was able to settle in and do what they wanted, but once we got that first goal we knew we could get more."

Neuqua Valley (14-8-0) knew it had little time to net the equalizer so it had to move a man up and that helped Batavia extend its lead.

Luke Laurich caught up with a cross from David DiBiase to score with 8:59 remaining. Then, with just 6:25 left, Larson all but sealed the regional title, the first one for Batavia since 2011, when he got past a defender, dribbled a bit and then connected again.

"We just were not in sync tonight," Neuqua Valley coach Skip Begley said. "Not sure what it was, but you see it all the time in the playoffs. Their guy converted and played well and we struggled."

It was the final game for Neuqua Valley's 15 seniors.

"I was proud of our guys," Wildcats senior Reed Kurtenbach said. "No one wants to play their last game. We left it out on the field, but it just wasn't our night."